The newest trailer for Stranger Things season 3 has just dropped, and it is already blowing people's minds left and right.
Netflix is giving fans of the smash TV hit another look at the bizarre world of Hawkins, Indiana, to catch up with Eleven and the rest of gang. What have they been up to since we last saw them in season 2?
If the almost three-minute clip is going to give us any indication, then we are definitely in for another thrill ride this coming Fourth of July.
Cue The Who's classic song "Baba O'Riley."
Not Kids Anymore
Arguably the biggest theme of Stranger Things' third year will be about growing up. After going head-to-head with the Mind Flayer and surviving the horrific events of season 2, it looks like Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Eleven will be facing their biggest challenge yet: not being kids anymore.
The trailer shows each member of the gang moving on with their lives. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is shown having a budding friendship with Max (Sadie Sink), whom she was initially indifferent to when they first met last season.
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) finds himself growing distant from his friends. He also has a newfound friendship with Steve (Joe Keery), who acts like a cooler, older brother to him.
Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max have hooked up after sharing a kiss together in season 2.
While the rest of the gang are shown to be having a great time, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Will (Noah Schnapp) seem the ones hit the hardest by the passage of time.
As Mike goes out with his friends, he pauses to look back. There is a voice over of him saying that they are not kids anymore and how they are not going to play Dungeons and Dragons in their basement forever.
Will is all by himself at home, looking at old pictures of the friends from season 1 and season 2. He takes out a photo of him with Mike, Dustin, and Lucas in their Ghostbusters outfits for Halloween, and he almost breaks down into tears.
It would not be a surprise if his mom, Joyce (Winona Ryder), decides to take the family and leave town after the events of season 2.
Meanwhile, the grown-ups of the show also have their own issues to deal with.
Amateur investigative journalists Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) are shown in the clip trying to get a job at a local newspaper, likely having been inspired by their exploits to take down the evil Hawkins Power last season.
At the local public pool, Billy (Dacre Montgomery) seems to have gotten himself a job as a lifeguard. He greets his new co-worker Heather (Francesca Reale), who might play a big part in the story later on as a missing lifeguard, based on previously released episode titles.
Fan favorite Hopper (David Harbour) is at a fancy restaurant, sitting alone at what looks like a table set up for two. The scene juxtaposes with Joyce alone at home and about to eat dinner. This suggests that the two were supposed to go on a date, but Joyce instead stands up Hopper.
The New Starcourt Mall
A new addition to Hawkins is Starcourt Mall, where much of the story's events will take place this time around. The mall is the pet project of Mayor Kline (Cary Elwes of Robin Hood: Men in Tights fame), who will serve as one the season's villains.
There is also a mysterious hitman going around town, seemingly after somebody who is not yet revealed. Some fans speculate he is sent to kill Murray (Brett Gelman) for his part in the fall of Hawkins Power.
Billy is shown to be struggling to deal with a nasty wound on his arm. There are black veins emanating from it, which could be foreshadowing to a sad fate for the new lifeguard.
At the end of the trailer, we see big bad monster that the gang will need to overcome. This time it is a large creature with several crab-like appendages. While the we have not learned what the monster is called yet, it certainly looks like it could give the Demogorgon a run for its money.
Stranger Things season 3 debuts on Netflix on July 4.
